Round-the-Clock Purple and Gold

Lakers escape with win over Golden State

March 15, 2010 | 9:56
pm

Lakers 124, Golden State Warriors 121 (final)

After a slow start, after trying to run up and down the court with the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers slowed things down in the second half to escape with a victory, but only after the Warriors missed two last-second three-pointers for a possible tie.

Even with that, a Kobe Bryant turnover late led to a three-pointer by Monta Ellis that cut the Lakers' lead to 121-119.

The Warriors double-teamed Bryant, who had 29 points, forcing him to pass the ball to Shannon Brown, who was fouled.

Brown made two free throws with 13.9 seconds left for a 123-119 Lakers lead.

But when Bryant made one of two free throws for a 124-121 Lakers lead with 8.6 seconds left, that left the door open for the Warriors.

Stephen Curry, who had 29 points and is one of the leading candidates for rookie of the year, missed a three-pointer.

Ellis ran down the rebound, but his three-pointer for the tie bounded off the rim three times before it rolled away.

The Lakers had no problems scoring against the Warriors. But it was their defense that seemed to suffer.

All the way until the end of the game, the Warriors pressed the Lakers' defense.

When Corey Maggette made a three-pointer, the Warriors had pulled to within 101-100 late in the fourth quarter.